Choose Kingston's Human Resource Management MSc

Our Human Resource Management MSc is perfect if you want to build and develop your career in human resources and is among the most flexible in London. It will give you a deep insight into leading, managing and developing people from different levels and perspectives. You will learn about the role of the HR profession and its function in relation to an organisation's strategic objectives and the broader environment. The course has been designed to meet employers' needs and gives you the tools you need to succeed in a career in human resources.

Kingston Business School has 30 years' experience of running human resources programmes.

Notable alumni.

Excellent networking opportunities.

From Research to Practice seminar series (co-presented by an HR academic and HR practitioner), jointly organised with the CIPD and delivered by leading HR managers, recruitment specialists and talent and development consultants alongside Kingston's own expert academics.

Programmes taught by Kingston University's expert staff and leading researchers, alongside many guest speakers, visiting professors and fellows in Kingston Business School's renowned Centre for Research in Employability, Skill and Society.

Proximity to the CIPD headquarters and library.

Opportunity to study some modules in Moscow.

Kingston Business School has joined an elite group of global institutions to be awarded the prestigious international accreditation by the AACSB (Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business). A hallmark of excellence in business education, the accreditation has been earned by just 5 per cent of the world's business schools.

What will you study?

Following an induction programme that prepares you for intensive study, you will evaluate various external influences on HRM practice in organisations – from developments in Europe to employment law, ethical issues and social responsibility.

You will gain an advanced understanding of human behaviour in organisations, the role of HRM in enhancing organisational and management performance, strategic HRM approaches, learning and development processes, reward management, employee relations and employment law, and people resourcing issues and techniques.

"We don't want our graduates to be seen as just academics or just practitioners; we want them to be both! This comes through in our 'theory into practice' approach." – Dr Jelena Petrovic, director of postgraduate HRM programmes

HR and management reports

You will complete a management report (dissertation) that involves primary research into an HR issue. This meets CIPD requirements and develops the practical skills you need to excel as an HR professional. This research can be carried out with an organisation in the UK or overseas. Our students have provided management reports for host organisations such as Transport for London, Prudential and Whirlpool Corporation. We can offer assistance to students looking for a host organisation.

Assessment

You will be assessed using a variety of group and individual exercises, including role plays, coursework, and unseen exams in addition to your management report (dissertation).

Work placement scheme

Many postgraduate courses at Kingston University allow students to do a 12-month work placement as part of their course. The responsibility for finding the work placement is with the student; we cannot guarantee the work placement, just the opportunity to undertake it. As the work placement is an assessed part of the course, it is covered by a student's tier 4 visa.

During the placement year, you will pay the fee of £1,070 for 2017/18. This amount will only be charged to your account after you find a placement and are enrolled on the module. You will not be charged this fee if you do not manage to secure a work placement.

Course structure

Core modules

Leading, Managing and Developing People in Context

Leading, Managing and Developing People in Context

You will evaluate human resource management in the context of national political, economic, social and technological environments. This module focuses on strategy, change management and the contribution the HR function makes to organisational performance. You will develop the confidence to be responsible for leading, managing and developing people within organisations at operational, tactical and strategic levels. You will be assessed with an exam.

Investigating a Business Issue

You will complete a management research project (dissertation) that involves researching an HR issue and producing a management report containing the implications for theory and recommendations for practice. You will learn a variety of research methods, identify and investigate a business problem, apply the findings to create solutions and present the conclusions in the form of a management report. You may also present your findings to clients. You will be assessed via a research portfolio and your management report.

Resourcing, Talent and Reward Management

You will critically evaluate and implement policies and practices to attract, reward and retain a competent workforce. You will investigate how HR professionals attract people with the skills, attitudes and experiences an organisation needs to achieve its strategic objectives. You will discover reward methods that enhance a highly effective employee's fit in the organisation and help you to retain their talent. By the time you have finished studying this module, you will understand employee resourcing, talent and reward management from academic, strategic and practical perspectives. You will apply your learning in this module and develop professionally. You will be assessed via two assignments.

Managing Employment Relations and Employment Law

This module expands your understanding of employee relations and employment law in economic, social and political contexts. You will:

identify the key employment actors that manage and shape workplace relations; and

build a solid knowledge of individual employment rights and relate these to the application of the law in employment relations issues.

With all these facts memorised, graduates can confidently advise managers about applying the law to specific employment relationship problems, and propose appropriate legal and HR policy measures to comply with law and best practice. You will be assessed via an exam.

Strategic Leadership Development and Performance Management

This module provides you with a theoretical grounding in the fields of strategic leadership and performance management. You will develop critical perspectives on:

how performance at organisational, group and individual levels can be enhanced and inspired by strategic leadership and direction; and

an understanding of the role of performance management in supporting the strategic objectives of the organisation in different business environments.

These theoretical foundations will be illustrated with examples and integrated with practical exercises in order to help you develop the knowledge, skills and capabilities to assume a substantive strategic leadership role within an organisation in both a domestic and international context. You will be assessed via one assignment.

Engagement of Employees and Organisational Learning

This module develops your understanding of the concepts of employee engagement, and of organisational learning, in the context of designing and managing work and jobs to enhance organisational performance and productivity. You will learn to:

critique concepts related to engagement and identify strategies for enhancing engagement with work; and

You will have the opportunity to study a foreign language, free of charge, during your time at the University as part of the Kingston Language Scheme. Options currently include: Arabic, French, German, Italian, Japanese, Mandarin, Portuguese, Russian and Spanish.

We aim to ensure that all courses and modules advertised are delivered. However in some cases courses and modules may not be offered. For more information about why, and when you can expect to be notified, read our Changes to Academic Provision.